Vending machine



Jan. 6, 1931.

H. R. WILLIAMS VENDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 4, 1926 3 Sheets-Shea?I 1 r I I l I I l l l l l l I 1 l1|l|||||| I 1 R1/ m7565071 Wm MM@ H. R. WILLIAMS VENDING MACHINE Jan. 6, 1931.A

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 4, 1926 Jan. 6, 1931. H. R. WILLIAMS 1,788,221

' VENDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 4, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 `Patented' Jan. 6, 1931AV nARnIsoN ROBERT ver'iLLiAiits,- or. CHICAGO,A ILLINOIS VENDI'VNG MAciiiNii i hppiicationiiiea February 4,1926. rsemi No. 85,866.

My invention relates to dispensing or vending machines, pieferablyfof the coin-cons trolledV type,1for selling packaged goods-or other articles, its leading aim and purpose be# ing to provide 'a construction of thisvcliarac-f, ter which will dispense or deliver the goods with accuracy, reliability and certainty, as the applianceis operatedfroin time to time inci-V dent to the deposit of coinstherein.

Other objects and purposes of the invention Will be made apparent to those skilledin this art by means. of th'egfollowing detailed desciiption of a desirable andk preferred embodiinent thereof, which is to be read in con- 15 neet-ion with the accompanyingsheets of' drawings illustrating suoli incorporation of the invention in physical form, and through# out the several Views ofwhich like reference characters have been employedtodesignate the same structural parts..

In these drawings,- Fig. l is a front elevation vof the'd'ispensing appliance; Y

. Fig. 2 is an end view of the saine;

packagesv accommodated and vended by the machine; f A

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section4 on line 4 4 of Fig.' 5,'the parts of the construction being 30` viewed looking downwardly;

. Fig. is a substantially centralrvertical cross-section'through the appliance n Fig. 6 is an enlarged,'vertical cross-section through the lower portion only of the'structure, that is to say, through aside extension on the'lower part of the casing; V-

Fig. 7 is a vertical section,`on a still larger viewed inthe direction indicated` byy the arrows; f

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on 'line 8 8l of Fig. l, the' elements being viewed looking downwardly; l

:Fig. 9 is a view'siinilar to thatof Fig. 6, with the movable parts in a dilierent position, c

Fig. 3 is a perspective lview of one of the Figpll is a fragmentary, enlarged section on line ll-ll o Fig.y 6.- u

-Bylreference tothe plurality of views of these drawings, it will'be perceived that the noveland improved dispensing or vending machine includes an upright casing or housing-2l, comprising a back wall 22, to ,which the combined top, front, bottom and end walls 23,24, 25`a'nd 26, respectively, are hinged at l 27, sok that the front part of the casing may be swung-down, giving accessto its interior forreplenishiiig purposes.`

These casing'or housing members are held in closedposition by means of a key-operated latch 28,disengageably (1o-operating with "a liXed catch29 extended forwardly from` the back wall, as shown inF ig. 5. 1

The frontwall of the housing or casing has a glass-covered window 31 (see Fig. 5) and a dispensing or discharge opening 32 through Vwhich the packages 33 orother goods, as the case-may be', are delivered tothe purchaser.

Internallyon theend walls 26, I lprovide registering, vertically-disposed.guides orrails 34,;and near the lowerpart of such housing a pair of 4appropriatelyfjournaled, front and rear, longitudinally-recessed shafts 35 and 36 areemployed in the relation illustrated. 'A lower, notched separatorplate 37 is sup,- ported by such companion or correlated shafts by reason of its front and rear marginal por.- tionsk occupying the registering recesses or cavities of thetwo shaftsfFig. 5), such low# ermost' plate 37 supporting above it an alternatinggseries or stack of 'such plates 37 and the packages kof goodsk 33-to besoldby thel machine. c scale, on line 7--7 of Fig. 6, the parts being These platesare-notched at their ends at 381torreceive and be,"V guided bythe vertical rails orbarsv 34,'and they are also cutaway at thetwopoints 39,39, vat their rontedges, and'atj4ll` at theirrear'margins, in order that rthey may escape conflict, when released by the simultaneous rockingof thetwo shafts 35 and 36, with aback, inclinedV lug 42, mounted on theinner side4 of the rear: casing wall, and with `a pairlof similarlyinclined, spaced lin;l gers 43, 43, located on the-back of the front wall. of ,the housing, thesethree supports 42 and 43 beingso located `and sloped that when v a package is deposited or dropped on them,

it will slide down by gravity out through the delivery aperture 32.

To assure that the pile or stack of packages and separator-plates shall have sufiicient Weight at all times for their proper descent, a weight 44. is placed on theuppermostpackage, and it is guided bythe 'rails' 34, ias are the plates, such Weight having an upstanding, front ange 45 ,carryinofa plate 46 designed to displayitle word 'n'ptywwhentlt comes opposite the window 31, whereby it may be read from the outside and inform the intending purchaser not torleposit aeoin, asno delivery of a package can then be effeete-el.- l -Y yj I Y From the above Vdeseri'ption, Ait will be understood that every time theafeompanion shafts-are Yrocked :simultaneously opposite directions, the -lowerm'ost 'plate land 'the .first paokage resting' thereon will-ibo released and faIL'those;aboveithernbengrtelnporarrlyiheld from deseentbyl-resfsorr ofthe .unreeessedparts of the shaftsfturningin Vunder theslowerinost supporting-plate. f' 1 The-'freed or rei-ema pmeraiisavwi-1 i0.

' the `bottom of the oasnfgor housing, passing by the vinvvare'ly-p'rojeeting lugs' Y'orsngers 42 and 43, fby -Ife'aso'rr of "its registering gnotches 'filv and 39, respectively, but; the Adisengagna' package, which has Ano such notches, :1S deposited or drops bnt Athe, sloping -fingers,

f clown which it slides by gravity, Aom;v Iier- X,to @perform their f speciiefunetions, the free a1 lookequppei .removable door 48' (Eig. lo), fthe vsnare-turil details of which, so-ffm- 'as this inventionfs Leonor-inferi, :being auf no substantialimportance; .Y

At their ends,V the two shafts l5-'and :86 vare fitted 'Jx'fv'thr inwardlyldirectedarms :51A and 52, -respe'cftve1y,fned lvth-ereto, and iby; which 'the shafts l*may be "roked `iin ftheir bearings eds'lof such arms-'bein V'conInectfed byflinks 53 and 54 to vertier lyslidable frame 55 kpulled. upwardly 'an'iappropriate {coled spring l5eV connected geheime .and to aepmi? Y othe freising' walhsuohffreme 'being guided in Vits verri@ al reofprocatons Iloyrfan.:extension '58 dependingtherefrornandisldable between pair-'of guide 'lugs e9, l59,'fformnrg part or,

. orattached to, the I-"c'asingpthe upward itravel Vities :have been provided.'

of the frame, and hence the rocking or turning movements of the shafts, being limited by nuts 61 onY the threaded end of the part 58 striking against the under surfaces of the lugs or projections 59.

The upper part of this Verticaly-reciprocatory lirrfzvrne isrguided in its travel Iby lugs 62,

Y GQ, on? the oasingand by 1a guide iiib-G?) on the opposite wall of the casing.

A right-angle guid rig-tube 64,' open at its top' end', kwhich extends through the upper wall .of the casing extension i7 for the receptionoi" the coins, delivers Ythe received @ein .6-intoiheirame-'aperture or open space, as shown in Figs. 6,.'9vand l0, beneath a pair oi spaced lingers ,66 extendedlateraily into thesrame-opening troni the top portion oi thefsiielefof Sa lever? nloruined on :the .oas ing fwaill at 68,'extending forwardly' through casingho'le s69, `the ypifotrncling y,part oiV thel lever forming an /operatingihandle 71,*and provided-with a lietingspring 72 whieh'ten (ls to froolrtheflever upwardly. A

Thus the coinfo'rms operative mechanioal connection betweenrtlie leverand the pair of :shafts "3 5 and 36 which support `the vstack orstoclrof paclrages,=through theotrame and theother mechanical 'elements heretofore "flee :'st'n'ibed.V f Y V In' order ,that the lever when .depressed may slidethe frame downwardly .toturn these two shaitsito release a separator-,plate and rone of the packages inwth-e `manner eleH scribed, thecoinfmust `be prevented `ifi-,foin tipping over,` anclaccordingly'the lever an enlargement 73 against which-thecoin may .bear sidevvise,v 4and which )prevents the roinlfroni falling out of the frame at one side. Y y

To preclude such coin from falling out o? the -frame in ytheotlier or-'opposite direction and :to @hold-it pressed. in Iupright position aga.instthe part 73 of the lever, a' verticallyl disposed, ipil-voted, sprling pressed linger .7st, with aubeveled lowerend, is'eniployed, such `finger being hinged at 756m a shaft .roolcinglyY mounted in space-:l bearings 76, 76.

' During the Vupward stroke fof ytheTiram'e, aiter 1t-.has .been depressed to 4pachage delivery, the Afinger, Yunder the 'action vof its 7sprung,having:swung toward the lever Aas lsoonl as the Lcoin yWent down beyond the inger,th`e latteigbyreason jef. itsfsh'arp lower endybe'coines interposed between the lever and :the coin anclftips 'the -laiter over youtmot` the frame, from which it falls into the lower part ofthe casing.

To facilitate thisiactiont thefaee oi 'the lever toward the coin be somewhat beveled o'r inclined, asis @fully shown in' Fig.110.

y lin-order .toiinsurefa lfull strek-ooi th'e'lever and :frame andtolholdtheiiinger Z4 normally ,away from the face of the lever suflioiently to I tween, the following-f coacting I instrumentalpermitthe entrance'ofthe coin vtherebei A spring 77 is fastened at its lower end to the casing at 78, suoli. member 77 having a and rocks the lever in the same direction.

The corresponding movement of the frame,

turned-over or hook end 79 at its top and a cam 4member 80 intermediate its length. y The frame has a projection 81 designed to zo-operate with Vsuch cam, and a lug 82 arprojecting from of lug 82 on the lateral finger arm or rod- 83,r

the operator presses' down on the handle 7l occasioned rby such swinging of the lever.

through the intervening coin, turns the two' shafts 351 and 36 andv causes Ythe discharge of one package and its delivery7 to the pur- Chaser.`

. As soon as the 'frame partakes of suoli de-A pression, its lug 81 leaves the cam element 80,

and the spring fleXes toward thelever and frame to carry its hook 79 above the lever so that the latter cannot rockfupV to its initial position until-the hook has been pressed back Y out of the way.

The descent'of the frame lowers projection. y

82 away from the finger-rod 83, and Ahence the'finger 74 is free to respond to the action of its spring, and it presses against the adjacent face of the coin and keeps the latter in place,

`When, however, the frame reaches its lowerinost position, thecoin has been carried bef low the sharp, lower end of such spring-actuated finger 7 4, and the latter rocksover further, so th at when the purchaser initiates the release o'f' `the lever, it movesup part way,

' the frame traveling likewise, and as the frame thus asceiids, vthefinger 74 wedges thepcoin out of the same, so that it Jfalls into the'bottom of the casing. i

As soon as this occurs, the spring 56 quickly elevates the frameto original position, and during this travel itslug81 engages the cani 80 and yforces the spring 77 back, carrying the hook 79 out of the path of travel of the lever, whereby the latter may ascend, under the action of its spring, to its original position.V

When the framereaches its uppermost posit-ion, the parts 82 and 83 will retract the,

finger 74 into its intial position, by reason of the coaction of the .parts 82 and 83, so that 'the next coin introduced may properly roll into place in the trame between the lever and the finger.

. unlikely, the frame cannot ascend to its'origsafety" mechanism to "prevent the operation olf-fthe appliancefii" the' e 'coin has noti been properly discharged into the casing..

It is desirable that means be provided'to prevent the Vintroduction or insertion of a coin iithesupply of packages, to be sold, in the casing has become exhausted, and accordingly the weight 44 is providedwith asprringactuated plunger 84 fitted` or supplied with a handle 85, the end .of such plunger-nor'- inally riding on the inner surface of that wall ot'- the casing adjacent to the coin-tube 64, the-upper end of which, just below itsin'outh 86,hasv registering holes,v87, 87, which are in alineinent'with another hole 88through the acent casing-wall,v this series yof holes l being in register with the position of the rod Athef'rdd84`will be automatically projected through the coin-chute, as'illustrated in Fig. 7, 'thus` preventing the introduction of" a coin vvwh-ichcould Vnot result in. the 'sale of l i one otl the packages. Y

' Then the supply otgoodsor packages' in the casing has `become exhausted and is to replenished, the accumulated supporting plates' in tlie'bottom of the casing are removedl and are inserted between. the plural.-

ity of packages 4vorarticles, so that thev .replenished stack-inthe casing `will present the 'general appearance ofl alternatingplates andvpackages, as depicted in Fig'. 5,'which,

exhausted. i. 4 e ,lglhose acquainted with this art Y will have ne diiieulty in funderstanding the substan- `however, shows the stack or' supply ialmost 'tial kvand material benelits and vadvantages -which accrue'f'iom vthe employment of a f essence of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: l. Ina vending machine, the combination tof' a casing having avdelivery opening and stationary supporting means adjacent said opening, said casing being adapted to accommodate a stack formed of supporting plates, alternated with the goodsto be dispensed, said plates having apertures in vertical alignment with said stationary supportingmeans, and supporting means forsaid plates,

ilo

plates, means to release Vsaid supportingY portingfmeans adj aeent said opening, Whered means Ito lreleasesaid supporting plates and 'meinem-responding goods, one setat a time, the apertures infsaid 'gplates permitting same Vwhen .released :to descend by gravity andY to pass bysaidfstationar-y supportingfmeansrad jacent said: opening, whereby .fthe freedv goods are-engaged by theflatter. l

2. In .a `iaencling machine, the combination of .a easing 'fhzwingna delivery opening .and stationary vsupporting means adj acent, said opening, sai-leasing being adapted to accom! modate .afstaek orm'ed of supporting plates, alternated with the goods to be dispensed, said plates Ahaving ,apertunes in vertical alignment with Isaid stationary supportingv means, supponting means orfsaid plates, meansto irelease said :supporting plates and theino'orrespondingjgoods, one set at a time, the apertures fin -said plates permitting same lWhen released 'to deseendby gravity and to pass Vby:saidstationar-y supporting means 'ad- .jacent said opening, whereby the freed goods are engaged bylthe'latter., :and meansffor i-n suring registry :ott lthe apertures of saidY 'plates Withsaid stationary, supporting means.- Y X3. {I'nfa vending machine, the combination of a easing lia-,ving adelivery opening ,and stationaryl supporting means ladjacent Vsaid Qpening, said i'casing being adapted .to accommodate a stack formed of Supporting plates, :alternated Withthegoods tor'be ydispensed,1said',.plates havingv1 apertures; in vertical alignment vWithwsaid stationary sup-y porting means, supporting 4means for vsaid plates andtheir eorrespondingigoods, one set at aa itimeftheapertures in said.` plates permittingsame When released to deseend'by ',grayityfand :to pass byfsaid stationary supby thefreed goods Yare engaged by the latten, .and means for insuring registry of the aper- Aturesof said plates with saidstationary' supporting means, vcomprising out-out portions in fsaid plates'and v guides registering therewith attached to said easing. A .Y

4In witness whereof I have hereunto set :my hand.

'i `HARRISON ROBERT WILLIAMS. 

